Leveling and scraping apparatus with level maintaining hitch



H. R. STROUF Oct. 24, 1951 LEVELING AND SCRAPING APPARATUS WITH LEVEL MAINTAINING HITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet l F` led April 11, 1946 w Howard VND www @N Oct. 2, 1951 H, R, STRQUP l 2,569,835-

LEVELING AND SCRAPING APPARATUS WITH LEVEL MAINTAINING HITCH Filed April ll, 1946 3 sheets-sheet 2f f/oward frau/a H. R. s TRouP Oct. 2, 1951 LEVELING AND SCRAPING APARATUS WITH LEVEL MAINTAINING HITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed April ll, 1946 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT O F FICE- 2,569,835 LEVEHNG'AND'SCRAPI'NG APPRATUS. wrrHIlEvErl MAINTAINING mazen` Howard RrfSltl-oup, ArtesialN. Mex# ApplatibAprirn; 1946; serial No: 661;?9'21 @Gla-ixus@ (Cl. 37--f150)'v This invention relates-toafrnolriilev ground lev'elf ing andscraping apparatuslparticularlyadaptedforfuse in conjunctionwith power eduippedlfarm vehicles.

The principal oliject of the present invention` isvto provide aground levelingf andscraping apparatusi having1 a mobile frame and scrapingmeansV adapted tol be connectedi to a power equippedfarm vehicle', suoli. asa tractor, wherein means is provided forl adjusting theffframeuand scraping means relative tothe-ground;

Another object is the provision off a2 ground" leveling and scraping apparatus ha-'ving a ground* engaging frame witha scraper: associated therewith and vmeans for independently adjusting the*v frameand scraper.

Still another object* is to` provide a groundV levelingr and scrapingV apparatus' mounted on` wheels and adapted to be cunnectced'fwithandA towed by afv'eh'icle; such -asatractorg with' means*V being'provided for remotely adjusting* the frame and Ascraper relative `to the groundl Af furtherf object is tl'ie-provis'ionof` a groundi leveling andl scrapingA apparatus including a framemounted on wheels and havingl means thereon for connecting the frame lto avehicle" such asatractor to enable' theframe' to betowed overlandadjusted relative to theground. A still further object is the"` provision of a ground leveling and scraping apparatus includ ing a` wheel" mounted ground engaging fra'rne having a' scraperl thereon aridmeansi associatedl therewith for remotely and independently 'adi justing the frame andscraper duringtravel to" facilitate 'scraping and handling;v

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent as' the `specicationV isi considered with" Figure 5-isa side elevation partly in section" Figure 6i's a rear elevation partly insection,l

taken on the line 6-6 of "Figure 5;

Figure` 7' is a rear elevation pfartlt'r` in sectionv taken 'onthe line 1-1 of Figure 5';V and.

Figure 81 is" a're'ar elevation partly isection taken "on the line"8'8 .ofFigureZl' Referring' 'more' particularly the' drawings' wherein` similar reference charactersV designate"m like'fparts throughout the several`views; numeral I designates a substantially rectangular` ground en-Y gaging' frame having spaced Vparallel siderunnersv 2; preferably formed from T-shaped inverted" metalbeams 3 or' runners, the relatively flatunedersides 4I of which are adapted to rest uponand slide overl the ground 5. The forward endsiofithe" runners=2 are bent upwardly', as at 6, andarecon' necte'd at their rear ends, mid sectionsl ari'cl'for-` wardends by cross rods T, 8, 9` and IU, respective# ly. The cross rods 8 and 9 are:preferablylocated approximately midway the length of'the'1fran1`e` I`.'

Mounted on and extending longitudinally "f across-and suitably secured to the intermediate" cross'rods 8` and'9 are two spaced parallel metal" supports II. A shaft I2, extendingtransversely offthe'support's II, is integrally formed wit'hztwo relatively short forwardly andnornally upward# ly' disposed stub arms I3 on the ends thereof; The stub arms I3 are journalled in bosses" or apertured' lugs I4, formed on the upper edges of theY supports Il,` and xedly connected. to the" outer ends of the arms I3 are twov crankzarms I5l upon which are rotatably mounted metal spoked wheels I 6. The shaft I2 isthereby'oilset with respect'totheicrank arms I 5 and Wheels" |16; The wheels' IIif1 are positioned approximately midway of fthele'ngth of the frame I and,` when in lowered position, extend below `the plane of therunners" and engage withV the ground to permit of the framet being freely moved over 'the ground; in1 a manner hereinafter more particularly; described'.

Afmetal upright Il isrigidly mounted; on ai `basef-plate'- I8` which in turn is xedly connectedto`=thetop of the shaft I2. One endof a cable I9 l is' connected to the` upperend of the upright I T andthe other end thereof is connectedto, a power 1ift2`l, suitably mounted on the rearend ofa* powerdriven tractor or the: likeZU, sothat when a forward pull is exerted on the cable I9, asf-presently described in detail, theV upright I1 is" moved forwardly in a clockwise direction, viewing Figure 2.- This'movement of the uprightv I1" causes the shaft I2A to be rotated or rocked infacorresponding clockwise direction andthe stub' arms I3 on the ends thereof'are raisedwith'4- bearings ld'with the frame,4 while with respect" totheA ground lthey are raised about thewheel.'

axesr Thus the crank arms I5 are lowered'.I

which results in the entire frame I-being elevatedl relative. to the wheels I6. This will b`e. apparentI as the specication .isffurther corisdjered'f a h a engaging scoop or blade 23 and forwardly extending side portions 24 thereon, is pivotally connected at the forward ends of the side members 24, as at 25, to the inner sides of the runners 2 forwardly of the cross rod 9. The lower ends of upstanding links 26 are pivoted, as at 21, to the lower rear corners of the side portions 24 and the upper ends thereof are pivotally connected to the outer ends of forwardly extending stub arms 29 carried by the ends of a shaft 28. The shaft 28 is journalled in three spaced standards or posts 38 carried by and suitably secured to the cross rod 9. The intermediate standard 38 extends above the plane of the outerstandardsv and the upper end thereof serves as an anchor for the inner ends of struts or braces 3|, the

outer ends of which are connected to the front*-Y and rear of the runners 2. The struts 3I serve to brace and strengthen the frame, in an obvious manner. The lower end of an upstanding lever 32 is fixedly attached to the shaft 28 and pivotally connected, as at 33, to the upper end thereof is a forwardly extendingrod 34. tends` longitudinally of the frame and projects through an apertured lug 36 formed on the upper end of a standard or post 35 mounted on the front cross rod I8. Ratchet teeth 31, formed on the rod 34 adjacent the outer end thereof, engage with the apertured lug. 36 and serve to retainthe rod in position, in an obvious manner. When it is desired to raise the scraper 22 relative to the ground, the rod 34 is elevated slightly, to clear the ratchet teeth 31 from the lug 36, and is pushed rearwardly by the operator of the tractor. This movement of the rod 34 moves the lever 32 rearwardly thus rotating or rocking the shaft 28 in` a counterclockwise direction, viewing Figure 2, which imparts an upward movement to the stub arms 29 thereby raising the links 26 and elevating the scraper 22. It will be apparent that the rod 34 will be pulled forwardly by theoperator to lower the scraper, in which case the lever 32 will be moved forwardly to rock the shaft 28 forwardly in a clockwise direction thereby depressing the stub arms 29 and links 26. Thus, the scraper 22 is moved downwardly about its pivot 25 into the desired position relative to the` ground. The vertical adjustment of the scraper will vary the size of the cut of earth being taken ras Vthe frame is towed over the surface being scraped, as hereinafter described.

In order to assure of the scraper blade 22 being evenly `disposed relative to the ground to effect an even and uniform cutting or scraping action, the links 26 are preferably in the form of conventional turnbuckles. By rotating the central portions 52 of either one or both of the turnbuckles 49 in the appropriate directions, the ends of the scraper .blade 22 are caused to be elevated or depressed, in anobvious manner, so that the blade will be evenly disposed with respect to the runners. Thus, the operator can adjust the scraper, when desired, to assure of the latter op erating at its maximum efficiency. Y

.A metal draft bar 39, preferably rectangular in shape, is removably coupled, at one end, as at 48,

to theiupper end of the intermediate standard 30 on cross rod 9 and extends forward longitudinally, ofthefrarne I .and projects through the bifurcated lower end of standard 35 on cross rod I0...,The.front1end.of the draft bar 39 is suitablycoupled, as at 42, to the rear of the tractor 28. A rearwardly and downwardly depending fulcrum 'lever 43 is pivoted at its upper end 44 tothe standard 35 andcarries a. relativelyY small The rod eX- 4 pilot wheel 45 at the lower end thereof which rides upon the flat upper face of the draft bar 39. The previously described wheel elevating cable I9 extends through an aperture 46 formed in the lower end of the fulcrum lever 43 immediately above the wheel 45. Suitable stops 48, such as knots or clamps, are formed on the cable I9 at either side of and in abutting relation with the lever 43 so that the lever will move about its pivot and relative to the standard 35 simultaneously with movement of the cable. The cable I9 extends through the bifurcated lower end 4I of standard 35 and thence under a pulley 41 journalled in the forward end of the draft bar 39 and is connected to the power lift 2I on the tractor 20.

When it is desired to elevate the frame I, relative to the wheels I6, to facilitate travel and maneuverability of the frame I, the power lift 2I on the tractor is moved upwardly exerting a pull on the cable I9 and moving the metal upright I1 and Wheel shaft I2, asrpreviously described. The downward pressure of the lever 43 and wheel 45 against the draft bar 39 causes the lever 43 to act as a fulcrum for the frame I, thereby enabling theframe and scraper to be'raised or elevated relative to the wheels, I6 and draft bar 39. The

movement of the cable I9 pulls the fulcrum lever` 43 forwardly so that the wheel 45 thereon will ride over andA apply pressure against the draft bar 39. Thus, the standard 35 is pushed or lifted upwardly relative to the draft bar and the frame and scraper is raised or elevated relative to the Wheels I6. That is, the lever 43 acts as a fulcrum to elevate the front end of the frame I while the pull of the cable moves the metal upright I1, shaft I2 and wheels E6, as previously described, so thatthe entire frame is raised above the plane ofthe wheels I6 and the latter are caused to engage and ride over the ground surface.. When the frame has been elevated a desired distance above the ground, the tractor power lift 2l is stopped and the tautness of cable I9 plus the draft bar l39 serves to retain the Vframe in a substantially horizontal elevated position. To lower the frame into engagement with the ground, it is only necessary to depress the power lift 2| to slacken the cable I9 thereby moving the fulcrum lever 43 rearwardly about its pivot and pressure'of the pilot wheel 45 is removed from the draft bar 39. Thus, the upright I1, shaft I2 and stub arms I3 are rocked rearwardly due to theY weight of the frame andthe crank arms I5 elevated to raise the Vwheels I6 out ofrsupporting engagement with the ground. In this position, the wheels I6 continue to engage the ground but do not support the frame so that the frame runners 2 restflatly upon and ride over the-surface of the ground, as the frame is-towed thereover by the tractor. J Y

The ease with which the entire frame may be elevated or lowered by the operator of the tractor without leaving his yseat is .particularly advantageous-in that it increases the maneuverability of the leveler. permitting it to be operated in close quarters lwithout.dragging theframe. It also permits of the frame and/or scraper being elevated when transporting the frameover roads or cross country,v The-independent adjustment of the scraper can be readily effected for dragging action. The runners also, to somel extent, cut

o1?. dig high- `places thereby leveling such high spots to a greater degree than would be possible with a short coupled rig.

By coupling the relatively long draft bar 39 to the post 30, substantially intermediate the length of the frame, the undulating movement of the frame in passing over rough terrain will not be communicated to the draft bar. Likewise, when the tractor drops or rises relative to the leveler, the draft bar 39 moves freely up and down relative to the standard 35 on the forward end of the frame.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my novel leveling and scraping apparatus, it is to be understood that various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A leveling and scraping apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tractor, a substantially rectangular frame, a vertical post on said frame, an elongated bar pivotally connected to said post and to said tractor, a pair of substantially nat spaced parallel ground engaging runners on said frame, a shaft extending across said frame, forwardly extending arms formed on the ends of said shaft and journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced wheels, and means on said wheels for connecting the wheels to said arms, an upright carried by said shaft, a scraping blade, a cable connected to said upright and said tractor, means on the front of said frame engageable with said cable and said elongated bar, and means on said tractor for moving said cable and said upright whereby a cable induced movement of the means on the front of said frame vertically moves said frame relative to said bar for retaining said runners substantially level.

2. A leveling and scraping apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tractor, a substantially rectangular frame, a vertical post on said frame, an elongated barpivotally connected to said post and to said tractor, a pair of substantially nat spaced parallel ground engaging runners on said frame, a shaft extending across said frame, forwardly extending arms formed on the ends of said shaft and journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced Wheels, and means on said wheels for connecting the wheels to said arms, an upright carried by said shaft, a cable connected to said upright and to said tractor, a scraping blade, a post on the front end of said frame and a lever pivotally connected to said post and engageable with said cable and said elongated bar, and means on said tractor for moving said cable and said upright whereby a cable induced movement of said lever vertically moves said frame relative to said bar for retaining said runners substantially level.

3. A leveling and scraping apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tractor, a substantially rectangular frame, a vertical post on said frame, an elongated bar pivotally connected to said post and to said tractor, a pair of substantially flat spaced parallel ground engaging runners on said frame, a shaft extending across said frame, forwardly extending arms formed on the ends of said shaft and journalled in said frame a pair of spaced wheels, and means on said wheels for connecting the wheels to said arms, an upright carried by said shaft, a cable connected to said upright and to said tractor, a scraping blade, a post on the front end of said frame, and a downwardly ldepending lever pivotally connected at its upper end to said post and engageable with said cable, a wheel mounted on the lower end of said lever and engageable with said elongated bar, and means on said tractor for moving said cable and said upright whereby a cable induced movement of said lever vertically moves said frame relative to said bar for retaining said runners substantially level.

4. A leveling and scraping apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tractor, a substantially rectangular frame, a vertical post on said frame, an elongated bar pivotally connected to said post and to said tractor, a pair of substantially at spaced parallel ground engaging runners on said frame, a crank shaft extending across and journalled in said frame, a pair of spaced wheels carried by said shaft, an upright carried by said shaft, a scraping blade, a cable connected vto said upright and said tractor, means on the front of said frame engageable with said cable and said elongated bar, and means on said tractor for moving said cable and said upright whereby a cable induced movement of said rst mentioned means vertically moves said frame relative to said bar for retaining said runners substantially level.

HOWARD R. STROUP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,595,215 Norwood Aug. 10, 1926 1,845,324 Noffsinger et al Feb. 16, 1932 2,021,660 Gledhill et al Nov. 19, 1935 2,160,193 Arndt May 30, 1939 2,277,889 Shumaker Mar. 31, 1942 

